Topic: Apple Retail

Google is taking a deeper step into the retail world with a newly-launched "store within a store," located in London, that will give the company a venue to promote products such as Android phones, Chromebooks, and the Chromecast.

In reaction to the strength of the U.S. dollar, Apple has the raised prices at a number of its international online stores, including prices in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, France, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Portugal.

Apple is already attempting to eliminate the need for consumers to carry a wallet and may soon extend its assault to the second pat of the venerable three-pat technique, as Apple chief executive Tim Cook said this week that the company designed its forthcoming Apple Watch to replace electronic car keys and fobs.

Apple design chief Jony Ive and retail head Angela Ahrendts are working together on a redesign of Apple's retail stores -- a different approach that will make them better suited for selling the fashionable Apple Watch, according to a new report.

Under the leadership of retail chief Angela Ahrendts, Apple is said to be considering major changes to the layout of its retail locations, which may be implemented at some locations in time for the debut of the Apple Watch.

Following the news that tech retailer RadioShack has filed for bankruptcy, a new report claims that online megastore Amazon has expressed interest in buying some of the company's brick-and-mortar locations.

In preparation for the upcoming Chinese New Year, Apple has released a new China-specific version of its ad "The Song," and the company has also revealed that its new store in Tianjin will open this Saturday.

Local media have been given access to Apple's new retail outlet in Chongqing, Southwest China, a day before its official opening and photos of the new store depict an expansive underground space not unlike the company's flagship location on Fifth Avenue.

Apple is set to open five new Chinese outlets in the next five weeks as the company prepares for an influx of shoppers during the Spring Festival, retail chief Angela Ahrendts revealed this week, with four of those outlets in cities that do not currently house an Apple Store.

With the hardware ecosystem surrounding Apple's mobile devices continuing to grow, the company has chosen to place the spotlight some of the laptop-style iPad keyboards and iOS gaming controllers it offers at its retail locations.

In the midst of a major retail expansion across China, Apple continues to make progress on its latest flagship outlet in the southwestern metropolis of Chongqing, recently breaking down the scaffolding surrounding the new store's dramatic cylindrical entrance.

The intersection of technology and liberal arts has taken on a new approach at Apple's retail stores, where some locations are now doubling as public galleries to showcase art created with Apple hardware and software.

For its New Year's Fukubukuro "Lucky Bag 2015" promotion in Japan, Apple doled out big-ticket items like 11-inch MacBook Airs, iPads, iPods, Apple TVs, Beats headphones and more to buyers paying an entry fee of about $300.

While Apple continues to expand its highly successful retail presence, Samsung's own retail experiment appears to be floundering, as the South Korean electronics maker has closed its flagship store in one of Europe's largest malls.

Apple's plans to build a new Union Square retail store in San Francisco are finally getting started with the demolition of an existing building. Meanwhile, just down the street the company's current store is getting a holiday "Winter Walk" plaza treatment.

Brooklyn will reportedly become the third of New York City's five boroughs to house an Apple retail store, with the Cupertino company expected to open a 20,000 square foot outlet there in April of next year.

Apple on Thursday announced that it will collaborate with Seattle-based Code.org for the second year in a row, hosting the Hour of Code -- designed to introduce the basics of computer programming -- and other events at its retail stores.